Ford Raptor gets extra injection of macho

Conquering Moab

It’s difficult to believe, but Ford’s F-150 SVT Raptor has gotten even more macho since it blasted into the market for the 2010 model year. The 2012 version of the high-speed off-road performance 4×4 truck looks more formidable and is engineered to better handle the brutal conditions it was bred to endure.

Stretched with the new SuperCrew option, the test truck is a larger rolling billboard, advertising kick-butt, adrenaline-pumping fun. Priced at $45,624, $2,900 more than the SuperCab, the test truck has a 5.5-foot cargo box.

On the box sides are optional new splash graphics. Adding $1,075 to the price, the graphics incorporate gloss, matte and textured black finishes, which are even more in-your-face than the predecessor’s. “RAPTOR” with “clawed” block lettering sits on a pair of diagonal stripes, streaked with jagged shapes. A black hood graphics package is available for $900.

A “RAPTOR” logo is prominently displayed on the tailgate, and a “6.2 L” badge on the truck’s lower front sides distinguishes it as packing a 6.2-liter V-8. Standard black cast-aluminum running boards with diagonal cut-outs are essential to make the tall step into the cab practical.

The grille is a menacing-looking all-black design with rectangular-chain texture and “F-O-R-D” stretched across its full width in huge block lettering. A pair of black, vented heat extractors is perched atop the domed hood.

These assist in the cooling of the big standard 6.2-liter. It powers the 6,210-pound Raptor with 411 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 434 lb.-ft. of torque at 5,500 rpm. Paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, the Raptor has an estimated fuel economy of 11 miles per gallon city and 16 mpg highway (corrected). Maximum trailer towing is 6,000 pounds.

Power is sent to appropriately edgy-looking black-painted and machine-finished 17-inch wheels. Wrapping these wheels are LT315/70R-17 all-terrain tires. Teamed with an advanced suspension system, engineered for off-road racing, suspension travel is 11.2 inches up front and 12.1 inches in the rear.

In order to accommodate the special suspension package, the Raptor’s width is stretched 7 inches more than a standard F-150. Key ingredients in making the long suspension travel possible are internal triple-bypass shocks by Fox Racing Shox.

For 2012, the Raptor gets a boost in off-road capability with a new Torsen front differential, which increases grip at the pickup’s front end. Even in cases when traction is split between the front tires, the new front differential allows the truck to pull itself over obstacles and up steep grades.

While engineered to handle the rough stuff, the Raptor has a remarkably civilized on-pavement ride. Passengers benefit from a roomy five-passenger cabin with dual buckets up front and a rear bench with 60/40-split flip-up cushions. The front buckets are aggressively bolstered, well-tailored in a leather/cloth combo and have “RAPTOR” embossed on the seatbacks. A $750 package is available with an interior treatment that has blue accents on the seats, door panels and center console. New for 2012 is the addition of cooled seats to the optional luxury package.

Another new option for 2012 Raptor owners who run their trucks in rugged environments is a $525 off-road front camera. Even if the view is blocked, the driver can see the trail directly ahead on the optional $2,470 navigation system’s display screen. Designed to assist at speeds less than 15 mph, the display includes dynamic and static overlays that help determine where the vehicle’s wheels will go.

Ford’s Raptor has quickly evolved into an impressive off-road racing beast that appeals to die-hard off-roaders, as well as to buyers whose main goal is to own a formidable-looking pickup for everyday driving.